There and Back Again

There and Back Again' by K M Shehab Uddin is the memoir of a diplomat who made history during Bangladesh's liberation war. Posted in Delhi as a young Pakistan Foreign Service Officer when the crackdown began on March 25, 1971, Shehabuddin renounced his allegiance to Pakistan on April 6, becoming the first career diplomat to pledge loyalty to the unborn state of Bangladesh. He later served as the first head of Bangladesh's Delhi mission and played a leading role on the diplomatic front of the war.

The book traces his journey from a mufassil headmaster's younger son, who left college teaching to sit for the foreign service exam, through dramatic events including the civil war in Lebanon and the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. His gripping account offers valuable insight for anyone interested in international relations, foreign policy, and the history of Bangladesh's diplomacy. The narrative moves from his early days through the war years and his subsequent postings across Europe and the Middle East, closing with reflections on the changing global order.